Transportation networking company Uber aims to make its taxi hailing service available in Taiwan.
The San Francisco-based company's plans were announced on Friday by an official from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, according to Focus Taiwan News Channel. However, ministry officials said they are still looking into Uber's services to see whether they violate any local rules of transportation.
Uber states on its website that its smartphone app gives customers the ability to hail a private car, and provides a map that allows consumers to track the car's progress. Users, with the help of a credit card system, are also able to split fares with their friends.
Taxi services are also provided by the company and let users book and pay for taxi trips, WantChina Times reported. Once downloaded to the user's smartphone, the app detects the Global Positioning System's (GPS) satellite navigation system. This allows the app to find the nearest available driver, who is part of the network, for a ride.
Wang Mu-heng, deputy director of the ministry's Department of Railways and Highways, said current rules prevent drivers working for car-for-hire companies from directly receiving assignments from customers. Mu-heng added that by working with Uber, these companies would be able to use the app to talk to customers and have drivers pick them up and accept payments.
Me-heng also said working with taxi cab companies would require Uber to be licensed in order to provide ridesharing services, and the company would also not be able to offer discounts. He added that customers should be charged taxi fares based on distance traveled and flag-down fare, Focus Taiwan News Channel reported.
The ministry said it is concerned about Uber's methods of operations because of the possibility of having to deal with disputes over the services, which could hurt the rights of the consumers. As a result, the ministry has decided to work with government agencies to make sure Uber provides legitimate services.
